Adjustable steering column for a motor vehicle

Abstract

The invention proposes an adjustable steering column for a motor vehicle with a setting part displaceable in at least one setting direction for setting the position of the steering column, a holding part nondisplaceable in this setting direction and a securement device, in the opened state of which the setting part is displaceable with respect to the holding part for setting the position of the steering column, and in the closed state of which the setting part is secured in place by the securement device. A crash blocking device is provided, by which at least in the event of a crash, an additional holding force can be exerted against a dislocation of the setting part with respect to the holding part, which comprises a blocking element united with the setting part and a blocking element united with the holding part, wherein one of the blocking elements comprises scales acting resiliently out of the surface and the other of the two blocking elements has recesses, in such manner that at least some of the scales projecting resiliently from the surface of the one blocking element can be brought at least partially into engagement in corresponding recesses of the other blocking element in the closed state of the securement device.

1. An adjustable steering column for a motor vehicle, said adjustable steering column comprising:
 a setting part displaceable in at least one setting direction for setting the position of the steering column; 
 a holding part nondisplaceable into the setting direction; 
 a securement device, in an opened state of which the setting part is displaceable with respect to the holding part for setting the position of the steering column, and in a closed state of which the setting part is secured in place by the securement device with respect to the holding part; and 
 a crash blocking device by which an additional holding force against a dislocation of the setting part with respect to the holding part can be exerted, a first blocking element united with the setting part, and a second blocking element united with the holding part; 
 wherein one of said first and second blocking elements comprises at least one scale, which, in an unloaded state, projects resiliently from a surface of the blocking element, and the other of said first and second blocking elements has at least one recess, and, in a closed state of the securement device, at least one scale is located in the proximity of the recess or, upon an onsetting slipping-through of the setting part with respect to the holding part reaches the proximity of the recess and the at least one scale located in the proximity of the recess, or reaching such, projects into the recess and is located opposite one edge of the recess. 
 
     
     
       2. The adjustable steering column for a motor vehicle as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the at least one scale in the opened state of the securement device is brought out of engagement with the at least one recess. 
     
     
       3. The adjustable steering column for a motor vehicle as claimed in  claim 2 , wherein a spring is provided, whose spring force in the opened state of the securement device brings the at least one scale out of engagement from the at least one recess. 
     
     
       4. The adjustable steering column for a motor vehicle as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the securement device comprises a clamping axle jointly moved with the setting part at least in one displacement direction, which axle bears one of the first and second blocking elements, wherein said one of the first and second blocking elements is nondisplaceable in the displacement direction with respect to the clamping axle. 
     
     
       5. The adjustable steering column for a motor vehicle as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein one of said first and second blocking elements is fastened directly on the setting part. 
     
     
       6. The adjustable steering column for a motor vehicle as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein one of said first and second blocking elements is held by the holding part nondisplaceably into the displacement direction in which it acts, or is implemented integrally with the holding part. 
     
     
       7. The adjustable steering column for a motor vehicle as claimed in  claim 1 ,
 wherein the one of the first and second blocking elements that comprises the at least one scale is formed of a metal sheet, the at least one scale and the blocking element that comprises the at least one scale are implemented integrally with one another, and the at least one scale is formed preferably by punching out a portion of its periphery and stamping. 
 
     
     
       8. The adjustable steering column for a motor vehicle as claimed in  claim 1 , comprising one of said crash blocking device for each displacement direction. 
     
     
       9. The adjustable steering column for a motor vehicle as claimed in  claim 1 ,
 wherein the securement device comprises at least one lamella connected with the setting part and at least one lamella connected with the holding part, wherein at least one of these lamellae is formed as a blocking element, provided with at least one scale, of the crash blocking device. 
 
     
     
       10. The adjustable steering column as claimed in  claim 8 , wherein at least one of the lamellae connected with the setting part as well as also at least one of the lamellae connected with the holding part is formed as a blocking element, provided at least with at least one scale, of the crash blocking device. 
     
     
       11. The adjustable steering column for a motor vehicle as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the crash blocking device is integrated in the securement device. 
     
     
       12. The adjustable steering column as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the one of said first and second blocking elements comprises several scales for cooperating with the at least one recess of the other of said first and second blocking elements. 
     
     
       13. The adjustable steering column as claimed in  claim 12 , wherein scales are provided pointing with their free ends in opposite directions. 
     
     
       14. The adjustable steering column as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the other of said first and second blocking elements comprises several recesses for cooperating with the at least one scale of the one of the first and second blocking elements.